Diet
What do scarlet tanagers eat?
Insects gleaned high in oaks; fruit in migration.
Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
Spring and summer diet
- Caterpillars, beetles, wasps and moths
Fall and winter diet
- Migrates to South America
Best feeder foods
- Oranges and grape jelly (rarely, during migration)
A treetop bird that drops to birdbaths and jelly feeders during spring migration, especially after storms.
Frequently asked
What do scarlet tanagers eat?
Insects gleaned high in oaks; fruit in migration.
What is the best food to feed scarlet tanagers?
Oranges and grape jelly (rarely, during migration).
What do scarlet tanagers eat in winter?
Migrates to South America.
Sources
- Scarlet Tanager — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Scarlet Tanager life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Scarlet Tanager — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.